Toothbrush With Resilient Pump for Supplying Paste to Brush

ABSTRACT

A dispensing or fountain toothbrush has a brush holder to which a paste tube is removably attached inside of a sleeve which serves as a handle. A chamber for paste in the brush holder communicates with a passage leading to the brush bristles and this passage is normally blocked by a spring-urged valve or plunger. An elastic pumping element on the brush holder pressurizes paste within said chamber and opens the valve while simultaneously closing a delivery nozzle through which paste enters the chamber from the paste tube when the pumping element returns to a normal relaxed position.

United States Patent 1191 Sherrod I I 1111 3,864,047 1451 Feb, 4, 1975[76] Inventor:

[ 1 TOOTHBRUSH WITH RESILI ENT PUMP FOR SUPPLYING PASTE TO BRUSH JamesA. Sherrod, PO. Box 84, Pavo, Ga. 31778 [22] Filed: May 23, 1974 211Appl. No.2 472,671

1521 11.s.1:1 401/278,132/84 R, 222/191, 401/186 51 1m. 01 ..A46b1l/04Field of Search 132/84 D, 84 R; 401/185, 401/186, 278, 286, 289, 140;222/191, 496,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,660 6/1910 I Martz401/140 1,518,341 12/1924 Mendoza 401/286 2,743,042 4/1956 Burgin401/185 x 3,256,894 6/1966 Sherman 401/278 X 3,356,093 12/1967 Tylle132/84R Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-David A.Scherbel Attorney, Agent, or Firrn-B. P. Fishburne, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A dispensing or fountain toothbrush has a brush holder towhich a paste tube is removably-attached inside of a sleeve which servesas a handle. A chamber for paste in the brush holder communicates with'a passage leading to the brush bristles and this passage is normallyblocked by a spring-urged valve or plunger. An elastic pumping elementon the brush holder pressurizes paste within said chamber and opens thevalve while simultaneously closing a delivery nozzle through which pasteenters the chamber-from the paste tube when the pumping element returnsto a normal relaxed position.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TOOTHBRUSH WITH RESILIENT FIJMP FORSUPPLYING PASTE TO BRUSH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior artdispensing or fountain toothbrushes have not achieved wide acceptancefrom the public for several reasons. Generally, they tend to be awkwardand messy to handle, excessively large and costly. Also, the theexisting devices, a major diffic ulty is encountered with internalpassages that become clogged with dried dentifrice paste, sometimesresulting in the device becoming largely inoperative. Some examples ofthe patented prior art are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 1,596,365; 3,610,831;3,021,850 and 3,256,849. Another difficulty with the prior artstructures is that they are difficult to clean when they become cloggedbecause of internal passages which are inaccessible.

In view of the'above, the objective of this invention is to provide apaste dispensing toothbrush which is entirely practical and reliable inoperation, as well as efficient. By utilizing a unique elastic pumpingelement, only a measured amount of paste is delivered to the brushbristles per pumping stroke and therefore paste is not wasted asfrequently occurs with prior art fountain toothbrushes having noaccurate paste pumping or metering means.

The brush of the invention is also greatly simplified in constructionand is therefore economical to manufacture. It is compact andsufficiently small to be carried in a pocket or small purse. It hasinternal passages which are readily accessible for cleaning out and isconstructed and sealed in such a way that the tendency for drying outand clogging is minimized. In this connection, the internal pastechamber of the brush holder is normally closed by a spring-urged plungeror check valve which opens only when the pumping element is depressed topressurize paste within the chamber. The pumping element automaticallydraws additional paste into the chamber after each pumping stroke toreplace the paste which was dispensed, thereby eliminating air pocketswhich cause drying and clogging. A brush head earring the brush bristlesis readily replaceable for convenience and economy.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apaste dispensing toothbrush embodying the invention with a cover capremoved to expose the brush head.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through thedispensing brush, partly broken away.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical cross section taken on line 33 of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a similar section taken on line 4--4 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectionsimilar to FIG. 2 illustratingthe positive pumping operation to dispense paste to the brush bristles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeraldesignates a brush holder or body portion formed of plastic or otherconvenient substantially rigid material. On its upper side, the holder10 is provided with a dovetailed groove 11 for the seating of a readilyremovable and changeable brush head 12 including a base or slide 13received snugly in the groove-l1 and locked releasably therein by adetent 14. Other means may be utilized to mount the brush head on theholder 10 and the above-described construction represents one preferredmanner of accomplishing this.

The holder 10 near its rear end has an internal chamber 15 for toothpaste leading forwardly to a relatively narrow roughly rectangular crosssection outlet passage 16. A transverse outlet port 17 for paste leadsfrom the forward end of passage 16 and communicates directly with arecess 18 in the brush head 12 for reception of tooth paste. As shown,the brush recess 18 is centrally located in the brush head for evendistribution of the tooth paste 19, FIG. 1, during usage.

In the forward end of the holder 10, a cylindrical bore 20 somewhatlarger than the passage 16 receives the head 21 of a plunger valveelement 22 which projects from the bore 20 rearwardly into the outletpassage 16 and across the. outlet port 17, FIG.'2, to close the same.The plunger 22 conforms in cross sectional shape to the longitudinalpassage 16 and fits closely, but movably, therein. The head 21 is backedup by a coil spring 23 in the bore 20 and an adjustable threaded plug 24in the forward end portion of bore 20 allows the spring tension to beadjusted and also permits removal of the spring and plunger valveelement 22 to gain access to the passage 16 for cleaning should thisbecome necessary. The rearward movement of the element 22 is limited bycontact with the head 21 of fixed shoulder 25 at the rear end of thebore 20.

The holder 10 has a thick rear end wall 26 which is externallyscrew-threaded at areas 27 and 28, separated by a shoulder 29. Aremovable cover cap 30 for the brush head has threaded engagement withthe screw-threads 28 and a substantially rigid cylindrical sleeve 31 hasremovable threaded engagement with the screw-threads 27. In addition toserving as a handle for the toothbrush, the sleeve 31 serves to enclosea conventional collapsible tooth paste or dentifrice tube 32,.

whose threaded neck 33 is received by a central screwthreaded opening 34in the wall 26. The rear end of sleeve 31 may carry a removablescrew-threaded cap 35.

Immediately ahead of the tube neck 33 and threaded opening 34 is aninclined tapering fixed nozzle element 36 integrally joined to the wall26 for delivering tooth paste from the tube 32 into the chamber 15 ofthe brush holder in a manner to be described. Acting in conjunction withthe nozzle 36 is an elastic finger operated pumping element or diaphragm37 formed of rubber-like material and having a marginal skirt portion 38of reduced thickness which is received snugly and sealingly withingrooves 39 formed in the side walls of the holder 10, FIG. 4. Similargrooves 40 provided in the holder 10, FIG. 2, receive the remainder ofthe skirt portion 38. so that the latter is held firmly around theentire marginal of the pumping diaphragm. The diaphragm 37 completelycloses and seals the top of the state, FIGS. 1 and 2, its flat undersurface 42 is spaced I from the outlet end 43 of nozzle 36 and there iscommunication between the nozzle and the chamber 15. Referring to FlG.5, when the user depresses the elastic diaphragm 37 with a finger, itmoves into contact with the nozzle outlet and closes off the nozzle sothat there can be no paste flow therethrough in either direction.-Simultaneously, the diaphragm compresses the paste in the chamber bysubstantially reducing the volume of this chamber and this actionunseats the plunger valve 22 and allows a desirable amount of toothpaste to flow through the port 17 and fill up the recess 18 in the brushbristles, as shown at 19. Only a measured amount of paste will bedispensed for each pumping actuation of the diaphragm 37, as the rigidnozzle 36 will limit the pumping stroke as shown in FIG. 5, andtherefore paste will not be wasted.

When the user releases the diaphragm 37, it will return automatically tothe relaxed state shown in FIG. 2 and in so doing will relieve'pressurein the chamber 15 allowing valve element 22 to close port 17 by theaction of spring 23. At the same time, the mild vacuum now created inthe chamber 15 will draw additional paste from the tube 32 and throughthe nozzle 36, into chamber 15 to replace the amount of paste previouslydispensed therefrom by the depressing of the diaphragm 37.

Thus the device has the ability to dispense precise amounts of toothpaste to the brush head, as required, and after each dispensing stroke,additional paste is automatically drawn into the chamber 15 so that thesame will be filled at all times without air pockets. This mode ofoperation, coupled with the fact that plunger valve 22 normally closesoff the port 17, assures that the paste will not quickly dry out in thechamber 15 or outlet passage 16 and the device will work continuouslywithout clogging. The periodic movement of the valve element 22 willtend to break loose any crusted or dried accumulation of tooth pastearound the port 17, and the recess 18 in the brush bristles can beflushed with water in the usual manner. It is thought that the structureof the device and its mode of operation is not only unique, butsimplified and very efficient and reliable.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scopeof the subjoined claims.

l claim:

1. A paste dispensing brush comprising a brush holder having a pastechamber and a nozzle element projecting into said chamber and a pasteoutlet passage leading from said chamber to the bristles of a brush headon said holder, a spring-urged valve element on the holder normallyblocking said outlet passage, an elastic pumping diaphragm element onsaid holder in opposed relation to said nozzle element and normallyspaced therefrom when in a relaxed state, said pumping diaphragm elementwhen depressed engaging and covering the nozzle element andsimultaneously pressurizing paste in said chamber and causing the valveelement to move for opening said outlet passage, whereby a measuredamount of paste from the chamber is delivered to said brush headbristles, releasing of said pumping diaphragm element and the returnthereof to said relaxed state allowing said valve element to block theoutlet passage and simultaneously drawing an amount of paste throughsaid nozzle into said chamber equiva- 4 lent to the amount of pastepreviously dispensed therefrom, and means on said holder for couplingthe same to a container of paste with the container communicatingdirectly with said nozzle element.

2. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1,

and said last-named means including a threaded opening on said holder inregistration with said nozzle element and adapted to receive thethreaded. neck of a tooth paste tube, and additional screwthreads onsaid holder for engaging a threaded sleeve member surrounding andenclosing the tooth paste tube and also forming a handle for saiddispensing brush.

3. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1, and said brush holderhaving a transverse outlet port leading from said outlet passage andintersecting said passage, said brush head bristles having a recess inregistration with said port, said spring-urged valve element comprisinga plunger element projecting axially into said outlet passage andadapted in one position to cover said port and in a retracted positionto uncover said port.

4. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 3,

and said holder having a forward bore ahead of the outlet passage, saidvalve element having a head slidable within said bore, a spring withinsaid bore engaging said head, and an adjustable plug threadably engagingin said bore ahead of said spring and bearing against the spring.

5. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1, and said elasticpumping diaphragm element having a marginal skirt portion, and saidholder having a groove receiving said skirt portion snugly andsealingly, whereby paste in said chamber cannot escape around the marginof the diaphragm element.

6. A paste dispensing brush as defined. by claim 1, and additionalcoupling means on said. holder for receiving a closure cap for coveringsaid brush head and pumping diaphragm element and for receiving a handleforming sleeve which also serves to enclose a paste container coupled tosaid holder.

7. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1, and said brush holderhaving a removable brush head seat thereon, said brush head having abase portion releasably engageable with the seat and being interlockedtherewith during use of the paste dispensing brush.

8. A paste dispensing toothbrush or the like comprising a body portionhaving a paste holding chamber and a paste inlet nozzle projecting intothe chamber and connectable to an external paste source, a brush headsecured to the body portion and having a paste receiving cavity, thebody portion having a paste outlet passage interconnecting said chamberand brush head cavity, a pressure responsive valve element on the bodyportion normally blocking communication between the brush head cavityand said outlet passage and opening in response to increasing pressurein said chamber and outlet passage, and a manually operable controlelement on the body portion having a normal position away from saidnozzle and a use position in contact with the nozzle and blocking thenozzle, said control element when in the use position diminishing thevol-' ume of said chamber and thereby compressing paste therein to causeopening of the pressure responsive valve element and dispensing intosaid brush head cavity a measured amount of paste.

1. A paste dispensing brush comprising a brush holder having a paste chamber and a nozzle element projecting into said chamber and a paste outlet passage leading from said chamber to the bristles of a brush head on said holder, a spring-urged valve element on the holder normally blocking said outlet passage, an elastic pumping diaphragm element on said holder in opposed relation to said nozzle element and normally spaced therefrom when in a relaxed state, said pumping diaphragm element when depressed engaging and covering the nozzle element and simultaneously pressurizing paste in said chamber and causing the valve element to move for opening said outlet passage, whereby a measured amount of paste from the chamber is delivered to said brush head bristles, releasing of said pumping diaphragm element and the return thereof to said relaxed state allowing said valve element to block the outlet passage and simultaneously drawing an amount of paste through said nozzle into said chamber equivalent to the amount of paste previously dispensed therefrom, and means on said holder for coupling the same to a container of paste with the container communicating directly with said nozzle element.
 2. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1, and said last-named means including a threaded opening on said holder in registration with said nozzle element and adapted to receive the threaded neck of a tooth paste tube, and additional screwthreads on said holder for engaging a threaded sleeve member surrounding and enclosing the tooth paste tube and also forming a handle for said dispensing brush.
 3. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1, and said brush holder having a transverse outlet port leading from said outlet passage And intersecting said passage, said brush head bristles having a recess in registration with said port, said spring-urged valve element comprising a plunger element projecting axially into said outlet passage and adapted in one position to cover said port and in a retracted position to uncover said port.
 4. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 3, and said holder having a forward bore ahead of the outlet passage, said valve element having a head slidable within said bore, a spring within said bore engaging said head, and an adjustable plug threadably engaging in said bore ahead of said spring and bearing against the spring.
 5. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1, and said elastic pumping diaphragm element having a marginal skirt portion, and said holder having a groove receiving said skirt portion snugly and sealingly, whereby paste in said chamber cannot escape around the margin of the diaphragm element.
 6. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1, and additional coupling means on said holder for receiving a closure cap for covering said brush head and pumping diaphragm element and for receiving a handle forming sleeve which also serves to enclose a paste container coupled to said holder.
 7. A paste dispensing brush as defined by claim 1, and said brush holder having a removable brush head seat thereon, said brush head having a base portion releasably engageable with the seat and being interlocked therewith during use of the paste dispensing brush.
 8. A paste dispensing toothbrush or the like comprising a body portion having a paste holding chamber and a paste inlet nozzle projecting into the chamber and connectable to an external paste source, a brush head secured to the body portion and having a paste receiving cavity, the body portion having a paste outlet passage interconnecting said chamber and brush head cavity, a pressure responsive valve element on the body portion normally blocking communication between the brush head cavity and said outlet passage and opening in response to increasing pressure in said chamber and outlet passage, and a manually operable control element on the body portion having a normal position away from said nozzle and a use position in contact with the nozzle and blocking the nozzle, said control element when in the use position diminishing the volume of said chamber and thereby compressing paste therein to cause opening of the pressure responsive valve element and dispensing into said brush head cavity a measured amount of paste. 